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WRC and Dakar winner Kenjiro Shinozuka dies aged 75
Kenjiro Shinozuka achieved fame as the first Japanese driver to win in both the WRC and the Dakar Rally. Shinozuka’s notable victories included winning the Asia-Pacific championship in 1988 and the Ivory Coast round of the WRC in 1991.He showcased his skills in challenging rallies by securing another victory in the Ivory Coast in 1992 and defeating Bruno Thiry in the process. Shinozuka amassed 88 points in his WRC career and consistently drove for Mitsubishi. Additionally, he found success in the Dakar Rally, finishing on the podium multiple times and claiming an outright victory in 1997. In 2003, Shinozuka switched to the Nissan team but suffered a severe crash during the race, although he eventually recovered and resumed competing in the Dakar Rally. In recognition of his achievements, Shinozuka was inducted into the Japanese Automobile Hall of Fame in 2022 and served on the WRC safety team at Rally Japan last year.
